Fuel atomizer



April 26, 1932. r E. Kmpmus 8 ,97

FUEL ATOMIZER Filed Oct. 25, 1928 Patented Apr. 26,

UNITED STATES EMIL KNOPI-IIUS, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TOGESELLSCI-IAFT rel. RA-

I'IONELLE VERBRENNUN'G M. B. IL, OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY FUELATOMIZER Application filed October 25, 1928, serial No. 314,981, and inGermany October 29, 1927.

This invention relates to a fuel atomizer, in which the atomization iseffected by rotary members.

According to the invention, the automizer consists of a tubular casing,which is divided at a suitable point by means of a partition, wherebythis partition is furnished with one or more series of apertures. Infront of the partition and conforming therewith is provided a disc,which is freely rotatable and is also furnished with one or more seriesof apertures. The apertures in the partition and in the rotary disc areangular to each other, so that the rotation of the disc is performed bythe fluid flowing through the apertures in the fixed wall and strikingagainst the walls of the apertures in the disc. The atomizer may beemployed both for liquid as well as pulverulent or solid fuel. The fuelis introduced in the centre of the casing to the space which is boundedon the one hand by the fixed partition and on the other hand by therotary disc. The same flows against the rotary disc, and by the actionof centrifugal force is flung towards the edge thereof, where it forms afilm over the mouths of the apertures. The rotation of the disc isperformed by an axially moving current of gas or air, this currentpenetrating through the apertures in the fixed wall and striking againstthe walls of the apertures in the rotary disc, an efiect similar to thatoccurring in a turbine.

The atomization of the fuel is performed by this current of air or gas,which breaks up the film of fuel covering the mouths of the apertures inthe disc.

The central feed pipe may also be made to be displaceable, so that thefuel is then introduced not exactly at the centre but at certain pointsbetween the centre and the periphery of the disc.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through theatomizer,

Fig. 2 being a cross-section along the line IIII in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modification in which gas pipes11 are provided.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary face view of the disc 6 showing thedisposition of the apertures 7.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents the tubular casing of theatomizer. At a suitable point of this casing is provided a partition 2,which closes off the cross-section thereof. In the case of theparticular embodiment shown this partition is furnished with circularlydisposed apertures 8, which are situated at an inclination to thelongitudinal middle axis. At a certain distance in front of thepartition 2, but nevertheless in relatively close proximity thereto, isprovided a freely rotatable disc 6 mounted on a shaft 4 and a bearing 5.This disc is likewise furnished with circularly disposed apertures 7,which are situated opposite to the apertures 3 and at an inclinationthereto and disposed obliquely to radial planes passing through the axisof the disc, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. 8 is the feed pipe for thefuel, this pipe penetrating the partition 2 and opening out at 9 intothe space '10, which is bounded on the one hand by the wall 2 and on theother hand by the disc 6. The liquid or solid fuel is fed in thedirection of the arrow P, while the air, which is to be admixed with thefuel, moves in the direction of the arrow P.

It is also possible to introduce both air and gas, whereby a number ofthe apertures 3, for example two of the same, are connected directlywith gas pipes 11, in order in this manner to convey a mixture of gasand air into the space 10. The face areas of the partition 2 and thedisc 6, which are situated opposite to each other, may be constructed asdisintegrating or grinding faces, so that for example a granular fuelwhich is introduced through the pipe 8 may be additionally disintegratedbetween the discs, to be then conveyed to the circularly disposedapertures by the centrifugal force.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The air, which flows froma suitable compressed air source in the direction of the arrow P intothe casing 1, pursues its way through the apertures 3 and strikesagainst the walls of the apertures 7 in the disc 6,

whereby, the action being similar to that in the case of a turbine, thedisc is caused to rotate. The fuel, which is introduced in the directionof the arrow P, passes into the chamber 10 and on to the rotary disc 6where, by reason of the centrifugal force acting in the direction of thearrow P it is conveyed towards the edge of the disc. If, for example,the fuel employed is oil, the latter moves in the form of a thin screenor film over the face side of the disc, this screen or film extending tothe edgeand also covering the mouths of the apertures 7. Since upon therotation of the disc 6 the mouths of the apertures 7 move alternatelyinto line with the mouths of the borings 3, the compressed air, forcingitsway through the screen or film of oil, enters the borings7, wherebyextensive atomization of the fuel and also intimate commingling with thecombustion air is caused. The film or screen of fuel covering the mouthsof the apertures 7 is penetrated by the compressed air at innumerablepoints and split up into the minutest particles.

If in place of oil a granular fuel is employed, which is subjected to anadditional disintegrating or grinding process between the disc 6 and thewall 2, merely the smallest particles of ground fuel, acted upon by thecentrifugal force, move towards the edge of the disc, while the fuelwhich has been insufficiently disintegrated is subjected to the grindingprocess between the discs until it is reduced to such size that it iscapable of being conveyed to the edge of the disc by the centrifugalforce. By displacement of the fuel opening 9 towards the edge of thedisc the vacuum is decreased which acts on the fuel in consequence ofthe rotation of the disc, so that simple regulation is possible if thecurrent of air is to remain unaltered; otherwise the conveyance of fuelvaries together with varying air pressure or varying rotationrespectively.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a fuelv atomizer, a tubular casing, a fixed wall in the said casingfurnished. with apertures, a rotary disc situated infront of the saidwall and also furnished with apertures conforming with the apertures inthe said wall, and means for feeding the fuel, the said wall and thesaid disc having grinding surfaces cooperating to constitute adisintegrating or grinding means for the fuel.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

EMIL KNOPHIUS.

